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Tharp retains FWC lead after two days

Category: Tournament

 Aug 16th, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Aug 16th, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Ranger Boats pro Randall Tharp from Port Saint Joe, Florida brought in 11 pounds 3 ounces today to move his two-day total up to 29 pounds 11 ounces to retain the lead at the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup on the Red River out of Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana heading into Day 3. In second place once again is Chevy pro Bryan Thrift from Shelby, North Carolina with 29 pounds 7 ounces.

Rounding out the Top 5 are Chevy/Stratos Boats pro Larry Nixon from Bee Branch, Arkansas in 3rd with 27 pounds 9 ounces, in 4th place after two days goes to Scotch Blue pro Ray Scheide representing Dover, Arkansas at 25 pounds 3 ounces, 5th is Mercury pro Mark Rose from West Memphis, Arkansas weighing 24 pounds 13 ounces.

Two good days not enough for Tharp.

	Randall Tharp on Day 2 of the FWC with a pair of Red River largies. (Joel Shangle)

“This tournament can’t be won in two days,” said Tharp. “My goal is to make it to Day 4. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Tharp has been fishing pretty clean.

“On the first day, I fished totally clean,” said Tharp. “Today, one 2.5-pound bass came off on a crankbait. I also lost a big fish that I never did hook up. I reeled down to it and never got it.

“The area I am working gives me the opportunity to hook at least five good fish each day, but I have to land a couple of the good fish. Catching 11 pounds each day the next two days would make it too close, probably not enough to win. I need at least one more day in the teens. One thing though, the area I am fishing does have a lot of fishing pressure.”

Today tougher for Thrift.

“Things were definitely tougher today,” said Thrift. “I had two good bites today and got one of them in. I’m still using my shaky head and a Damiki worm to catch the bigger fish. I need to keep catching bigger fish for sure. I hope it holds up tomorrow.”

Confidence key for Nixon.

“I am fishing my tail off,” said Nixon. “It ain”t easy. I am getting the right bites. I caught a good fish early and then I struggled, struggled and struggled. Then I went flipping. Darn if I didn’t get another big one. I’m doing this with a lot of hard work and fishing with a lot of confidence.”